To simulate two-dimensional plane-strain conditions in the laboratory model test, the side frictional resistance between the soil and thick glass or plastic sheet of the soil container should be reduced as much as possible. However, in fact this side friction cannot be removed completely. In this paper, the ground model simulated as a multi-sized aluminium rod mixture was introduced to get rid of the side frictional resistance and applied to the laboratory shear box test. In addition, an application of the close range photogrammetric technique to the shear box test was validated. As a result, it was found that a mean value of dilation angle from the close range photogrammetry was close to the dilation angle defined by the curve of shear strain vs. volumetric strain.